BACKGROUND:Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same piece of land such that the period of overlap is long enough to include their vegetative stages(Gomez, 1984). It is a means of maximizing resources and increasing cropping system productivity (Olasantan, 1996). Intercropping has been therefore proposedto increase an agricultural intensification and meet increasing global food demand while addressing soil quality issues (Midmore, 1993). It is a common practice intropical parts of the world with longer growing seasons, where small holder farmers allocate about 0.2 - 0.3 ha (30 - 45% of their farm area) to cassava baseintercropping (Pypers et al., 2012). As much as 15 to 20% of the world’s food supply comes from these systems that reduce risk in agriculture and increase foodsecurity (Harms, 2015). Cassava-maize intercrop is the most popular in Nigeria (Okigbo, 1978). Yet, the cassava yield in Nigeria is low in this system (Olasantan,1997), with an average yield of less than 12 t/ha in farmers fields despite its potential yield of over 80 t/ha. Hence, there is a substantial potential for agronomicimprovements of the cassava-maize intercropping system.

METHODOLOGY Field trials (randomized complete block design replicated four times) with 9 treatments (Table 1) will be established in farmers fields in 2017 and repeated in

2018 in the guinea savannah and tropical rainforest agroecological zones of Nigeria (Fig. 1).Factors: Mineral nutrient fertilizers rates: 0, 90:20:40, and 75:20:90 N:P:K, Cassava genotypes: erect and branching, Cassava densities: 10,000 and 12,500 plants/hectare, Maize densities: 20,000 and 40,000 plants/hectare. F1 and F2 represent split applications of N and K mineral nutrient fertilizers up to 6 weeks before and 10 weeks after maze maturity (Table 1).

Factors/Treatments T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9

Cassava density

(plants/ha)

10,000 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 None

Maize density

(plants/ha)

20,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 None None 40,000

Fert. Rate (kg/ha)

(F1 and F2)

None None F1 F2 F1 F2 F2 F2 F1

Cassava genotype

(G1 and G2)

G1 G1 G1 G1 G2 G2 G1 G2 None

3

Table 1: Factors and treatments. F1 = 90:20:40 N:P:K; F2 = 75:20:90 N:P:K; G1 = TME 419 (erect cassava genotype); G2 = TMS 30572 (branching cassava genotype). Maize variety = SAMMAZ 35 (early maturity/yellow grain).

Funding:

References:1. Olasantan, F.O., Ezumah, H.C. and Lucas, E.O (1997). Response of cassava and maize to fertilizer application, and a comparison of the factors affecting their growth during intercropping. J. of Nut. Cyc. in Agroecosys. 46: 215 – 223.2. Olasantan, F.O., Ezumah, H.C., and Lucas, E.O. (1996). Effect of intercropping with maize on the micro-environment, growth and yield of cassava. Agric. Ecosy. Evt. (57): 149 – 158.3. Midmore, D. (1993). Agronomic modification of resource use and intercrop productivity. Field Crops Research, 34(3-4), 357-380. doi:10.1016/0378-4290(93)90122-4.4. Gomez, A.R. and Gomez, K.A. (1984). Statistical procedures for agricultural research, 2nd ed., John Willey and Sons, New York.

Improved Cassava-maize Intercropping for Sustainable Cassava Production In Nigeria

Charles Chigemezu1,3, Magda Necpalova1 Kreye Christine2, Pieter Pypers2, Abdulai Jalloh2, Adeyemi Olojede3, Anthony Ano3, and Johan Six1

1Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland, 2International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, Kenya and 3National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria.

Charles.nwokoro@usys.ethz.ch

Split application of N and K

enhances

Performance of cassava and maize

Increased cassava and maize densities

results in

improved micro-climate

Genotypes and environments

increaseroot yield

1 2 3

Hypotheses

To unravel the effect of split application of N and K mineral

fertiliser on cassava performance.

To determine the effect of higher cassava and maize densities on

light interception and crop micro climate.

To investigate the interactive effect of cassava genotype and

environment on cassava and maize yield.

Objectives:

21 3

To monitor the effect of N, P and K on the development of component crops in cassava-maize intercropping system.

Task 1Elucidate the relationship between light interception and soil moisture/temperature in mono and intercrops systems.

Task 2Determine cassava genotypic and location interaction effects on cassava yield components, root production and cassava-maize intercropping productivity.

Task 2

Fig. 1: Agroecologies of Nigeria

Expected outcome:

Location specific agronomic recommendations for increased and sustainable cassava and maize production in cassava-maize intercropping system in Nigeria.

observations observations observations